Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000156A
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00:22 Children are our future.
00:25 They are full of dreams and desires. 00:28 But in a world of unspeakable despair, 00:30 these ignited minds live in poverty and pervasion, 00:33 helpless and hopeless. 00:39 Child Impact International is an organization giving hope. 00:42 It is an organization fostering permanent positive change 00:46 in the lives of disadvantaged children 00:48 and those who are in need, 00:50 serving communities in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, 00:55 Myanmar, and beyond. 00:58 For the last 15 years, 00:59 Child Impact has invested in the futures of children, 01:03 and their investment has proven infinite returns. 01:06 Driven by their dedication to helping those 01:08 who have the least, 01:10 Child Impact as an organization 01:12 focused on the welfare of children, 01:14 implementing diverse development projects 01:17 and sponsoring thousands of children. 01:20 Their outreach spans from child rescue operations 01:23 to providing an education for orphans, deaf, 01:26 and the blind children, 01:28 giving them a sense of place, a home. 01:31 But above all, Child Impact is an organization giving hope, 01:35 giving hope to children, giving hope to communities, 01:40 giving hope to the ones who need it the most. 01:48 This is Hope In Motion. 02:16 Welcome to Myanmar. 02:18 Child Impact International has been sponsoring 02:21 over 600 children in Adventist schools 02:23 all across this Southeast Asian nation. 02:29 Over 95% of the population here in Myanmar 02:32 practices Buddhism. 02:34 In fact, Myanmar is one of the most religious 02:36 Buddhist countries in the world. 02:38 The Seventh-day Adventist mission 02:40 was established here 115 years ago, 02:43 and Adventist education has played a central role 02:45 in spreading the gospel in Myanmar. 02:50 The challenge is that a decent education 02:52 is expensive. 02:53 Most people can't afford it. 02:55 This is where an organization like Child Impact 02:57 has such a great impact. 02:59 They're concerned and committed to the welfare of children 03:02 in need here. 03:05 Today, we join Jim Rennie 03:07 on a visit to Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary 03:10 and see what Child Impact is doing to bring hope, 03:12 salvation, and a future to needy children in Myanmar. 03:28 Well, I'm back here in Myanmar, 03:29 and I've just had a four to five hour drive 03:32 here to the seminary. 03:33 And on this trip, we really want to meet 03:35 some of the students that you have sponsored 03:38 and see the difference that we are making 03:40 in their lives. 03:42 Come and join me on this trip as we meet these students 03:45 and see the impact on their lives, 03:47 which is very real. 03:48 Come with me. 03:57 Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary or MUAS, 04:00 as it is commonly known, 04:02 is the only Adventist institution 04:03 of higher learning in Myanmar, 04:05 and it plays a very important role 04:07 in developing young minds who are the future torchbearers 04:10 of the church. 04:11 Presently, there are 600 students 04:13 at the college taking religion, education, and business 04:16 as their fields of study. 04:18 Most of them come 04:19 from financially difficult backgrounds 04:21 and 160 students are sponsored by Child Impact. 04:26 These young people come from all over Myanmar 04:28 and Child Impact is making it possible 04:30 for them to be able to learn and acquire skills 04:33 needed for employment. 04:35 I'm here at Myanmar Adventist College 04:37 where they are a group of over 160 students 04:41 that are sponsored by Child Impact International. 04:44 And just meeting with them and just talking with them, 04:47 it's so exciting to see the real difference 04:50 that sponsorship is making in their lives. 04:53 Standing behind me are the future doctors, 04:55 the future dentists, the future nurses, 04:58 teachers, and pastors. 05:00 And this will impact on their lives, 05:02 this will impact on their families' lives, 05:05 but most important, 05:07 have a big impact on the church in Myanmar. 05:10 Just looking at their faces, 05:11 you can see the difference that sponsorship is making 05:15 not only in the lives of their children 05:17 but of their families, their community, and the church 05:20 just shows the success of sponsorship. 05:25 For us, in our union, 05:27 the Child Impact International sponsorship is very important 05:33 because it is among the many sponsorship programs. 05:37 It is the biggest. 05:39 It sponsors more than... 05:43 600 students in our union. 05:47 We have more need for the sponsorship. 05:53 If... 05:56 Child Impact International can more students, 06:01 more students can learn, and more students can be, 06:07 what do you say, 06:09 in one or other way, they can help the children 06:12 finish their education. 06:21 Education is vital in this country. 06:24 It is important education is subsidized 06:26 so that we can create the environment 06:28 in which children have an opportunity 06:29 to learn and achieve their dreams. 06:31 And the Adventist school system 06:33 not only helps children grow mentally and socially 06:36 but they also have an opportunity 06:38 to grow spiritually. 06:40 Well, as we all know, 06:41 Seventh-day Adventist education was prepared and launched 06:46 through very intensive information 06:50 that God gave through Ellen White as to 06:54 how Seventh-day Adventist education 06:56 ought to be different from other places. 06:58 It was to reach the head, the hand, and the heart. 07:03 It was to help people following in Christ's ministry, 07:06 helping children, young people, physically, mentally, 07:09 socially, and spiritually, 07:11 helping them to become a whole person 07:14 so they can be sent from those schools 07:17 to be wonderful testimonies for the Lord. 07:20 Seventh-day Adventist education is unique, 07:23 and it is powerful because it's from heaven. 07:28 To move forward with its focus in Myanmar, 07:30 Child Impact has established the Educate Myanmar fund. 07:34 The purpose of this fund is to help sponsor children 07:36 in Adventist mission schools here in Myanmar 07:39 and help with resources and other needs 07:41 such as classrooms. 07:43 The college has many needs, and Child Impacts also address 07:46 another important issue of congestion in the dorms 07:49 and other infrastructural needs. 07:51 Currently, it is helping the college in finishing 07:53 the building of classrooms for theology students. 08:08 It's quite exciting to see what is happening 08:11 with this building. 08:12 I'm here with Dr. Connelly who is the president 08:15 of the Myanmar Adventist Union College. 08:18 And in talking with him, I can now see how important 08:22 the theology and religious training is 08:25 from the Myanmar Adventist Union College. 08:28 It's the only source of Bible workers and pastors 08:32 for the country of Myanmar. 08:34 And so Child Impact International 08:37 is really excited that, with the help of our sponsors, 08:40 we can sponsor a Bible students and theology students, 08:45 but also, if possible, we can help with the finishing 08:48 of this new theology department building. 09:11 The Educate Myanmar fund is fully committed 09:14 to helping Adventist schools in Myanmar. 09:16 But more importantly, it is committed to helping 09:19 give young boys and girls from difficult backgrounds 09:21 an opportunity to receive an education 09:24 through sponsorship. 09:26 I'm here in the boys' dormitory at Myanmar Adventist Seminary. 09:31 It's a large room 09:33 with over 20 boys sleeping on the floor, 09:35 which to us is a little strange. 09:37 But, in fact, culturally, 09:39 this is how they probably live at home, 09:42 in their village house, and they sleep on the floor. 09:46 I'm here with Sanga, who is an inspiring story 09:50 from sponsorship. 09:51 He comes from a very large family 09:53 of seven siblings. 09:55 And he's the only one getting an education. 09:59 His father is a farmer, a poor farmer, 10:02 and the rest are at home working in the field. 10:05 Sanga, at an early age, 10:07 was given the chance to go to an Adventist school, 10:10 and he's been through the high school, 10:13 and now he's at the Seminary doing the religious studies 10:17 and theology course. 10:19 And we're real proud of his achievements today. 10:22 Just to show the pressure for finance 10:25 and how poor his family is, in those three years, 10:28 Sanga's only been home twice 10:31 because he has to do a job on the holidays, 10:35 he has to work just to cover the rest of his overhead costs 10:40 in getting through college. 10:42 And he's really got a dream. 10:44 And, Sanga, tell us about your dream. 10:46 What do you want to achieve? 10:51 I want to be a good pastor, so I'm taking religion major. 10:57 Right. 10:58 So Sanga wants to go on to do his MA in theology, 11:01 and he wants to be a pastor, 11:03 and he wants to be a successful pastor. 11:06 And once again, that's really exciting. 11:08 And we want to support Sanga as he goes ahead. 11:12 And it really shows you 11:13 how sponsorship 11:15 through the different facets of education 11:17 is now turning this young man into a real success story. 11:23 And we're so proud of what he has achieved. 11:26 Sanga is one such story 11:28 of how sponsorship is having an impact 11:32 on the lives of these students 11:34 but also on their families and their communities. 11:37 And as I travel around, 11:39 it's just so exciting to be able to meet these students. 11:42 And shortly, I'll introduce you to two young ladies, 11:46 one who is doing a business major 11:48 and wants to have her own business, 11:51 and it just shows the impact that sponsorship 11:54 is having beyond the education. 11:56 It's giving their families hope, 11:58 it's giving their communities hope, 12:00 and it's having an impact totally on these 12:03 Adventists mission schools and seminaries. 12:06 I'm so proud of the work 12:08 that I see sponsorship is doing, 12:11 and I want to thank you for your support. 12:15 I'm Jim Rennie, 12:17 CEO of Child Impact International. 12:19 I've just returned from the country of Bangladesh. 12:23 Bangladesh is located northeast of India. 12:26 Bangladesh has a population of 163 million 12:30 and is actually one of the most densely 12:32 populated countries in the world. 12:35 For instance, 12:36 Los Angeles has 2,700 people 12:40 per square kilometer, 12:43 but the capital Dhaka 12:44 has 23,900 people 12:49 per square kilometer. 12:50 The Adventist church only has about 30,000 members, 12:54 but the church school system has about 10,000 children 12:59 in small village schools 13:00 and also larger boarding schools. 13:03 The main religion is Islam. 13:05 And the education is the key outreach 13:08 for the church. 13:09 Bangladesh is low-lying land on a huge area of river delta. 13:14 Late last year, Bangladesh suffered 13:16 the worst flooding in its history 13:19 with over 8 million people displaced or affected. 13:23 Thousands died in the floods. 13:25 Unfortunately, farming was devastated by the flooding, 13:29 which caused food prices to skyrocket in price 13:32 and created food shortages. 13:35 In most of the country, prices still remain high. 13:39 This has put a huge financial strain 13:41 on our mission school finances. 13:43 Children are not getting sufficient nutrition 13:46 and the mission schools 13:48 are really struggling financially. 13:50 As I visited the schools, they asked for help. 13:53 I also had visited the villages 13:55 where the children live in the poor areas, 13:58 and they are really struggling also. 14:01 As I saw the reality of what was happening, 14:03 I realized we just had to help. 14:06 We don't normally do food appeals, 14:08 but we have no option 14:09 but to help these children and also the mission schools. 14:13 We are asking you to help us purchase 5,000 bags of rice 14:18 for $35 a bag. 14:20 A bag is about 110 pound and feeds about 105 meals. 14:26 Each bag you can donate will insure 14:28 the children are fed 14:30 but will also save the school's valuable funds. 14:34 You can donate 1 bag, 10 bags, 100 bags 14:37 or whatever you can share. 14:39 Each bag will impact 14:41 on hundreds of children's nutrition 14:44 and will give urgent financial relief 14:47 to those struggling mission schools, 14:49 some who are close to closing. 14:51 It's urgent. 14:53 Please help. 14:54 Just 1 bag for $35 or maybe 5 or 10 bags, 14:59 50 bags, whatever you can help with. 15:01 Please help these kids. 15:10 A couple of years ago, 15:11 my daughters and I had a wonderful opportunity 15:14 to travel to India. 15:15 And while we were there, 15:16 we met yet another part of our family, 15:19 and that's our sponsor daughter Sheila. 15:21 We've had the privilege of sponsoring Sheila 15:24 through Child Impact International 15:26 for more than three years now. 15:28 And, you know, while we were there, 15:30 she shared with us 15:31 that her dream was to become a nurse. 15:35 Now what a wonderful privilege it is for us now as a family 15:39 to know that she is fulfilling that dream. 15:42 Sheila is now studying to be a nurse. 15:45 She's in college, 15:46 and we cannot be happier for her. 15:49 It's been wonderful to be part of that journey with her. 15:52 And, you know, sponsoring a child 15:54 through Child Impact, 15:56 it's made an incredible difference 15:57 for our family. 15:59 And I know that, for you, 16:00 sponsoring a child can make a difference for you too. 16:03 And most importantly, 16:04 it can make the difference 16:06 in the life of a child every day. 16:35 Bobbili, a small rural town in Andhra Pradesh, 16:38 India has nothing to offer to a visitor. 16:41 Its streets, often bustling and chaotic, 16:44 are typical of rural towns in India. 16:49 Poverty is widespread and people struggle 16:51 to meet ends doing menial jobs 16:53 and often tending to paddy fields owned 16:55 by landlords. 17:04 Visits to villages around here only amplify one's perception 17:08 of abject poverty people live in 17:10 on a daily basis, 17:11 but it is in this despairing and gloomy environment 17:14 we often get to see 17:16 and experience hopefulness and optimism. 17:26 Over the last 15 years, Child Impact International 17:30 has undertaken numerous development works in 17:33 and around the Bobbili area. 17:35 The Sunrise Children's Home, 17:37 situated about 10 miles from Bobbili, 17:39 is one such project that gives orphaned 17:41 and abandoned children an ideal place 17:44 to live and learn. 17:57 Ten-year-old Akhil Muttaka 17:59 and his younger brother Charan 18:00 were orphaned at a very early age 18:02 and came to live at Sunrise Home 18:04 two years ago. 18:06 Their family belonged to a tribal community 18:08 who live in the mountainous region bordering 18:10 the states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh 18:12 in southeastern India. 18:15 This is Akhil and Charan's aunt's house. 18:17 They're living here. 18:19 Actually, they're up on the mountains, 18:20 live up on the mountain. 18:22 They came down and came down. This is a very poor village. 18:26 And this village has no water facilities, 18:29 no agricultural facilities. 18:31 The people are depending on the forest products. 18:34 They collect the forest products 18:36 and they survive. 18:37 Every day afternoon, they'll eat some porridge. 18:40 There's no rice 18:41 or no other stuff to fill their stomach. 18:44 In the nighttime, they'll cook a little bit rice 18:47 and some vegetables and they'll eat. 18:48 Every day, they'll eat one meal. 18:56 The majority of children at Sunrise Home 18:59 come from tribal villages and communities around Bobbili. 19:02 And the home is well regarded in and around Bobbili 19:05 because of Child Impact's development work 19:07 among the tribal people. 19:09 A few years ago, 19:10 Child Impact had conducted a vocational training program 19:13 for young men and women from the tribal community. 19:16 It was during one such project that Raj Varma, 19:19 field officer of Child Impact, came across Akhil and Charan. 19:24 In 2014, I came to this village for tribal development project. 19:29 So at that time, 19:31 the Child Impact International wanted to do 19:33 some development project for tribal people, 19:36 improve their living standards and the livelihood. 19:39 So that time, these ladies showed 19:42 these children 19:44 and explained their story and requested me 19:48 to take them to the Sunrise Orphanage. 19:52 Raj Varma had learned from the boys' relatives 19:54 that their father had fallen from a tree 19:56 and had died and the boys came to live with their aunts 19:59 who took turns to look after them. 20:01 When inquired about 20:02 the whereabouts of their mother, 20:03 Raj Varma was told that she had died of malaria. 20:07 Seeing their pitiable living conditions, 20:09 he brought Akhil and Charan to Sunrise home. 20:12 It was at Sunrise the boys revealed 20:14 the real whereabouts of their mother. 20:17 According to my knowledge, when I asked the children, 20:20 when I'm writing the story, Akhil, elder one, 20:25 he said my mother went away with another man. 20:29 I felt very sad and very bad. 20:32 Children, when they're grown up, 20:34 they won't have love towards the parents. 20:37 When they are grown up, parents will come. 20:40 When the mother comes, when the children see them, 20:44 what respect will they have? 20:46 Parents, they will never have respect 20:48 because she just left them and went away. 20:52 And immediately, when the children told that, 20:54 I felt very bad and very sad also. 20:57 But as a mother, I'm giving them love. 21:01 And they know I am the mother, 21:03 so they love me, and I too love them. 21:06 Now they're very happy. 21:07 They says, "Momma, you don't send us to home. 21:11 We don't want to stay there." 21:14 It is not uncommon for a single parent 21:16 in tribal communities to abandon their children 21:19 when his or her spouse dies. 21:20 And the children's relatives don't reveal the whole story 21:23 because they're ashamed of the truth 21:25 and are unwilling to reveal the customs 21:27 and practices that are prevalent 21:29 in their community that may seem bizarre 21:31 and cruel to an outsider. 21:34 Well, I don't think we can understand 21:36 the life of an orphan. 21:38 They may not know who their parents are 21:40 or they may know the tragic circumstances 21:42 they come from. 21:44 So we not only give them an education, 21:46 we give them a home. 21:48 We give them hope. We give them a future. 21:51 And just for a child knowing that they've got a future, 21:54 knowing that they've got somewhere 21:55 they can go in their life 21:57 makes a huge difference to them, 21:59 and we're just so excited 22:01 that we can be a part of making that total difference. 22:06 If they didn't come to Sunrise Home, 22:09 today, they might be somewhere, no one knows, 22:12 no education facilities, 22:13 no proper facilities, and also no food. 22:17 Even though they fill their stomach 22:19 with some porridge, that's not valuable food. 22:23 Here there's no valuable food, 22:25 most of the children are malnutritious. 22:31 If they didn't come to Sunrise Home, 22:33 by this time, 22:35 the children might have been disappeared. 22:39 Knees bent... 22:41 Stomach out... 22:42 Head bent... 22:44 Making melody in my heart 22:47 Making melody in my heart 22:51 Making melody in my heart 22:55 Making melody in my heart 22:59 Unto the King of kings 23:05 Sunrise Home has given Akhil and Charan 23:07 a sense of belonging, 23:09 a sense of place that is safe and comfortable, 23:11 a place where they don't feel 23:13 like they're orphaned or abandoned. 23:15 Thanks to Akhil and Charan's sponsors, 23:17 Child Impact is giving them a new life at Sunrise Home 23:21 and giving them an opportunity to receive a proper education. 23:25 Really, I want to thank Akhil and Charan's sponsors 23:29 for playing an important role in their lives. 23:32 And now they're very happy here, 23:34 I'm only the caretaker, 23:35 who is taking care of them and molding them, 23:37 but they are important persons who had given them good life. 23:43 Well, when I go to Sunrise Home, 23:45 children like Akhil and Charan just come running towards you. 23:50 They're just so happy to see you. 23:52 It's as if they have the sense 23:54 that you are a part of their family, 23:57 and it's one of the most rewarding aspects 24:00 of the job that I have. 24:01 And I'm very grateful that I've had this experience 24:04 of having children just so happy, beaming, 24:08 and if you saw them 24:09 when they had first come in to where they are now, 24:12 we're not only giving them education, 24:14 but we're making their lives. 24:16 We literally become a part of their family. 24:19 And it's just so exciting, and I'm just so grateful 24:23 that I can be a part of this work 24:26 that the donors do. 24:34 Today, Child Impact International 24:36 is reaching out to children in need. 24:38 And for brothers like Akhil and Charan, 24:40 Sunrise Home is a safe haven, 24:42 providing not just their basic needs 24:44 and an opportunity for an education 24:46 but giving them parental love and affection, 24:49 a chance and a hope for a brighter future. 24:53 Coming, where I do, from America, 24:57 I knew, I read, I've heard the stories, 25:01 I've seen the film clips, 25:04 but until you walk... 25:14 Until you walk on these sidewalks of the home 25:19 where the children are staying and you see 25:22 what is going on in their faces, 25:27 you can be assured that a good work is happening, 25:32 you can rest assured that lives are being changed, 25:36 children are being made happy, 25:39 and it was a powerful experience 25:41 that allayed any concerns 25:45 that I had about the value 25:48 that I am getting from my sponsorship. 25:51 There's no problem. 25:53 I just love, love what's going on. |
Revised 2018-07-30